BE'WICHED What's a diner to do when confronted by the riches on Matthew Bickford and Mike Ryan's menu? Start by ordering the pulled pork sandwich ($8.50), where each meticulously crafted part -- a house-baked onion roll, a layer of crunchy sweet pickles, a thick stack of succulent and gloriously seasoned pork and a crown of toothsome coleslaw -- adds up to an incredible whole.

800 Washington Av. N., Mpls., 612-767-4330, bewicheddeli.com

LUCIA'S RESTAURANT

A staple on Lucia Watson's ever-changing lunch and brunch menus is the kitchen's "farmer's salad" ($10.25 to $10.95), a joyous way for a person to hit their daily minimum vegetables requirement, and then some. The big question is, where does Watson get her hands on this ultra-fresh produce?

1432 W. 31st St., Mpls., 612-825-1572, lucias.com

MODERN CAFE

This Northeaster has never been better, thanks to chef Phillip Becht's inventive cooking, embodied in an eat-every-morsel entree that pairs juicy slices of roast pork with ultra-creamy polenta, ruddy black beans and a tangy pineapple relish ($18.50).

337 13th Av. NE., Mpls., 612-378-9882, moderncafeminneapolis.com

NAPA VALLEY GRILLE

The perfect megamall lunch ($14) is chef Matthew Fogarty's cleverly deconstructed Nicoise salad, where big, beautifully rare slabs of pepper-crusted tuna share top billing with all the right accompaniments: crisp haricots verts, tender fingerling potatoes, hard-cooked eggs, tuile-style croutons and a punchy anchovy vinaigrette.

Mall of America, Bloomington, 952-858-9934, napavalleygrille.com

RUSTICA

Here's an ethereal taste experience that only costs a buck. They go by the most pedestrian of names -- bittersweet chocolate cookies -- but to put these profoundly delicious treats in the same class as, say, an Oreo, is akin to calling Beyoncé a mere mortal. Buy 'em by the half-dozen pack, where a fiver buys six.

816 W. 46th St., Mpls., 612-822-1119, rusticabakery.com

RICK NELSON